Wildlife Trade

Globally, where approximately 3.5 to 5 million birds are traded annually, the mortality rate is appallingly high - two for every three birds caught; one dies during capture, one during transportation and only one ends up in the cage. Apart from live birds, a flourishing trade exists in feathers. Ironically, our national bird is the most coveted, its iridescent plumes being used in a dozen crafts. A Trade Restrictions on Flora and Fauna in Commerce (TRAFFIC-India) survey for northern India shows that thousands of birds are still regularly being caught, transported and traded both in India and abroad. In India, Uttar Pradesh is the centre of this nefarious trade.